Special Education Co-Op Closes Deal On Queen of Peace Building

BURBANK, IL -- The AERO Special Education Cooperative has closed the deal on the former Queen of Peace High School building in Burbank. AERO announced the purchase Tuesday on Facebook.

AERO provides special education services to students from 11 member public school districts in the southwest suburbs serving Argo, Evergreen Park, Reavis and Oak Lawn high schools along with seven of their feeder elementary districts. Since 1963, the special education cooperative has offered special education programming and related services to students with physical and intellectual disabilities. Member school districts maximize their resources to provide a full continuum of special education services.

Currently, AERO owns a building in Burbank and leases a school building and classrooms across the cooperative. The 13-acre property at 7659 S. Linder Ave. n Burbank includes two buildings, a parking lot, athletic field and green space. The new campus will afford AERO the option to centralize its operations in educating hundreds of students from pre-K through 12th grade, as well as young adults through age 22.

“The purchase of The Queen of Peace School property will allow AERO to enhance the services that it delivers to the most vulnerable students in its communities,” said Dr. James Gunnell, executive director of AERO. “Our board views the purchase as an investment in the future. The purchase sets AERO up for future successes and will benefit generations of students. The expansion of Programs and Services will allow AERO and its member districts to meet the future needs of our diverse learners.”

~ Photo courtesy of Burbank Beat